Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved his request to expand reimbursement assistance to eligible homeowners from 50 percent to 100 percent. Gov. Edwards’ request was unanimously approved by the Restore Louisiana Task Force on July 13, 2018 and an action plan detailing the request was immediately submitted by the Office of Community Development to HUD for review and approval.

“This is great news for thousands of Louisiana homeowners recovering from the devastating floods of 2016, and I want to thank HUD officials for seeing the urgency of this request and giving quick approval,” said Gov. Edwards. “I know that this has taken a toll on many and hopefully, this increase will help them in their rebuilding process. In addition, my administration and Louisiana’s congressional delegation continue to push for a solution for homeowners who have been negatively impacted by the federal government’s requirement that Small Business Administration (SBA) loans be counted as a duplication of benefit. I know there are concerns about how this increase will impact those who have SBA loans, but I want to stress that it will not jeopardize the availability of potential grant funds should HUD decide the SBA loans no longer need to be counted as a duplication.”

Later this week, the Restore Homeowner Assistance program will mail letters to eligible homeowners with updated grant award information. Homeowners who have already provided proof of adequate flood insurance per program requirements will also receive their additional reimbursement grant award. This program expansion applies only to homeowners in Phases 3-6 who did not originally receive 100 percent of their reimbursement award. Homeowners who are in Phase 1-2 already qualified for the 100 percent reimbursement, and this program expansion will not change their award.

At this point, no other action is needed by eligible homeowners. If homeowners have any questions, they may contact their case manager or call 866-735-2001.